Driving instructor surrenders to police after killing popular highway policeman on Bangkok's ringroad

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A driver who hit a well regarded highway cop who was chasing him on Bangkok's Kanchanaphisek ringroad and fled the scene has turned out to be a driving instructor.

 

He said he fled because he was scared of the consequences. He admitted to drinking and having beer and an E-cigarette in his car.

 

Thai Rath reported that at 4.30 pm yesterday a Highway 2 policeman was killed on Route 9 of the Kanchanaphisek ringroad (Bang Pa-in to Bang Plee section) at the Lam Lukka bridge in Pathum Thani.

 

Rescue services and police went to the scene.

 

Dead at the scene was police sergeant Setthakan Loikhampom who was in uniform.

 

He had a severe head injury.

 

Some 100 meters away was his white Yamaha Tracer 900 motorcycle. It was badly damaged.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Such a vehicle is capable of speeds in excess of 200 kmph, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Eighty meters away was a Toyota Vios with damage to its front left side and scratches down its side. Both left sided wheels were damaged.

 

Inside the car was an unfinished beer bottle. The driver was nowhere to be seen. Witnesses said a man in black had run away down off the road.

 

Highway staff working nearby said they had heard the sound of a collision and saw dust rising. They crossed over to that side of the road, found the downed cop and called the police.

 

Witnesses reported that the cop had been involved in a chase over some distance - this was recorded on helmet-cam footage.

 

 

The two vehicles collided causing the policeman to be catapulted off his bike before the car hit the side of the road. The driver in black fled to the Lam Lukka road below the bridge.

 

At 8.30 pm yesterday Kittirach Ranprasert surrendered to the custody of the Highway Police's Pol Col Wanchana Thip-at at Raminthra.

 

He was subjected to a 3 hour grilling and was highly stressed.

 

He was tested for alcohol and drugs.

 

He said he had stopped by the side of the motorway to do some fishing. There was a pond there.

 

A policeman came to clear him off as parking was forbidden there.

 

But when the cop tried to see what was in his car he decided to flee because there was beer and an E-cigarette device in the car. He was scared that he would face consequences for that.

 

Police don't believe other aspects of his story related to the collision.

 

They think there may be a case to answer of deliberate vehicular homicide.

 

There was no evidence of drink or drugs in his system. He was handed over to the Lam Lukka police.

 

A study of the bike and car revealed that inside the car was ID indicating that the suspect is a driving instructor. The beer and E-cigarette were taken into evidence.

 

At 1.20 am this morning as the suspect was being led for interrogation at the police station a friend of the deceased cop tried to attack him and was prevented. Ten minutes later the suspect was taken away in a vehicle managing a "wai" in apology.

 

Sgt Setthakan was not just a cop, continued Thai Rath. He had acted as an outrider for the motorcade of RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat and gained recognition for leading the way of an ambulance.

 

His body was picked up by relatives for funeral arrangements.

 

Daily News Thai Caption: "Farewell"

 

Daily News carried a story before the surrender of the suspect that said Sgt Setthakan was a very well regarded and honest policeman who had an online presence after his work leading the ambulance.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

In addition he had been widely praised in September last year for ensuring that a female member of the public who was in danger of missing her flight in the rain had got to the airport check-in on time.

 

She had tried to give him money and he had refused.

 

He was also featured online after saving a dog that had got lost on the motorway.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-02-24

 

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[richard_smith237]

Thailand… ‘the gift that keeps giving’ !!!

 

You really can’t make this s#!t up !!!

 

… at every single step there is an absurd fail, a twist that somehow only becomes understandable when occurring in Thailand !!! 

[ThailandRyan]

RIP Sergeant Setthakan, you were killed because of the man being afraid because he had an e-cigarrete device.

 

Your family should sue the government for its stance on these devices which unfortunately created the situation you faced and perished from.....

[CelticBhoy]

Sickening just watching that vdo.

That's about as evil as one can get.

I hope the <deleted> gets all that he deserves, and more.

[robblok]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thailand… ‘the gift that keeps giving’ !!!

 

You really can’t make this s#!t up !!!

 

… at every single step there is an absurd fail, a twist that somehow only becomes understandable when occurring in Thailand !!! 

I have given up on Thai stuff. I just read it and forget it. I still love it here but the corruption and dangerous roads are a concern. But I now accept it as part of life. I dont think it will change. Nobody really wants change they still want the easy way out so they dont mind corruption. As long as this attitude does not change it will stay dangerous.

[ikke1959]

Rip to the family of the policeofficer.. Someone who did his work and got killed by a......Yeah driver instructor... I am wondering how he became one... Stopping on the highway for fishing, no license plate at the back of his car, drinking and drugs, speeding, and switch lanes to avoid to be arrested and deliberately cutting the policeman's way off....If that is an example how to drive no wonder so many accidents happen...

Edited February 24, 2023 by ikke1959

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He said he fled because he was scared of the consequences

Oh boy, i shudder to think what is install for him.

[NextG]

Murdered. “Killing” leaves space for it being unintentional. 

Edited February 24, 2023 by NextG

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

RIP Sergeant Setthakan, you were killed because of the man being afraid because he had an e-cigarrete device.

 

Your family should sue the government for its stance on these devices which unfortunately created the situation you faced and perished from.....

He was killed because he tried to take on a car with a motorcycle.

 

Incredibly stupid.

 

No way a motorcycle cop in the West would try that.

 

In the West he would have followed and reported to a co-ordination centre, that would have vectored a car or cars onto the offender.

 

 

[JonnyF]

Wow. 100% deliberate. And all because he didn't want to get caught with a beer and an e-cigarette which would have been a small fine and 3 points deducted.

 

What an idiot. 

 

With driving instructors like that, the daily carnage I see on the roads here is becoming a bit more understandable. 

[internationalism]

that is murder, but the cop should not try to overtake but just follow for as long as it takes.

I think highway police are also armed, he had chance to blow tires, front windscreen - on road or at the nearest traffic lights or traffic congestion.

On front of the accident site there is warning sign about roadworks and limit 60km/h. The driver probably have argued in his defence story, that he changed lines because his line was closed. But siren was blaring and probably emergency lights on motorcycle were on.

Cop probably haven't seen those signs or ignored them. Sometimes there is only one sign, if those roadworks are small and short. That roadwork was at the end of bridge so if not properly marked with many signs it could not be seen.

RIP for cop, probably media will try to make him a hero, but it also his bravado which killed him

Edited February 24, 2023 by internationalism

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He said he had stopped by the side of the motorway to do some fishing. There was a pond there

As you do. Really a Driving Instructor, stops on a motorway for a bit of fishing, You can't make this sh!t up.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

There was no evidence of drink or drugs in his system.

So just the E-cigarette my god, make them legal.

[kidneyw]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

At 1.20 am this morning as the suspect was being led for interrogation at the police station a friend of the deceased cop tried to attack him and was prevented.

Oh dear! Think we know where this is going.

[Taboo2]

He won't be able to VAPE in prison....5555.

[Zapitapi]

this guy panicked.. <deleted>ty outcome

[spidermike007]

Real men take responsibility for their actions, no matter how painful, difficult or costly they are. Those who flee from the scene of an accident they caused, after killing someone, are vermin. They have self revoked their right to breathe, and should be put to death. 

[leither69]

I see Sherlock Holmes and all his descendants have came out the woodwork to solve this crime!! The theories expressed are ludicrous.  Let Plod do the work, get back to your Leo's you'll have a chance again soon to solve more crimes!!

[Classic Ray]

They have difficulty doing the basics right. The man in civilian clothes with a lit cigarette leaning over the crashed motorcycle.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

He was killed because he tried to take on a car with a motorcycle.

Agreed. While the car driver is 100% at fault for everything else - this would've been prevented if he just followed the car instead of trying to overtake it. The rule of the road is don't **** with anything bigger than you - it's better to be wise (and alive) than right.

[swm59nj]

Maybe that’s why most drive so bad here.  They adapt their bad habits from their driving instructors

[SOTIRIOS]

...Clearly...That Was No Accident...That Was Deliberate...

[PenceE]

I always wonder why Thai motorcycle police men does have ridiculous protection gear. I may reconsider something that suitable for staff who case criminals on highways by profession. 

 

https://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-police-riding-gear/

[quake]

Just incredible.

Will this place ever grow up.

 

[zyphodb]

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

He was killed because he tried to take on a car with a motorcycle.

 

Incredibly stupid.

 

No way a motorcycle cop in the West would try that.

 

In the West he would have followed and reported to a co-ordination centre, that would have vectored a car or cars onto the offender.

 

 

Still cold blooded murder though...

 

[connda]

Boy howdy, does that look familiar 'eh?  I bet the results are different for a 'driving instructor' as opposed to a billionaire's heir. 

[sammieuk1]

Fleeing the scene must be part of the test here ????Rip 

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, internationalism said:

that is murder, but the cop should not try to overtake but just follow for as long as it takes.

I think highway police are also armed, he had chance to blow tires, front windscreen - on road or at the nearest traffic lights or traffic congestion.

On front of the accident site there is warning sign about roadworks and limit 60km/h. The driver probably have argued in his defence story, that he changed lines because his line was closed. But siren was blaring and probably emergency lights on motorcycle were on.

Cop probably haven't seen those signs or ignored them. Sometimes there is only one sign, if those roadworks are small and short. That roadwork was at the end of bridge so if not properly marked with many signs it could not be seen.

RIP for cop, probably media will try to make him a hero, but it also his bravado which killed him

All you needed to write was the first three words. The rest is all about what you think might have happened, none of which relates to the car driver deliberately driving into the motorcyclist.

[connda]

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

He was killed because he tried to take on a car with a motorcycle.

 

Incredibly stupid.

 

No way a motorcycle cop in the West would try that.

 

In the West he would have followed and reported to a co-ordination centre, that would have vectored a car or cars onto the offender.

 

 

One of my biggest complaints about Thailand is that they have no Highway Patrol who do "hot-pursuit" in order to stop and ticket drivers for moving violations.

However - a single cop on a motorcycle in hot-pursuit of a car?  Not very wise.

[Stevemercer]

It's a hard videoto watch if you ride a motorbike. I hope the offender is charged with vehicular homicide for his deliberate and reckless action in killing the officer.

 

RIP for the police officer just doing his job and best wishes and condolences to family and friends.

[David in the north]

3 hours ago, Enoon said:

He was killed because he tried to take on a car with a motorcycle.

 

Incredibly stupid.

 

No way a motorcycle cop in the West would try that.

 

In the West he would have followed and reported to a co-ordination centre, that would have vectored a car or cars onto the offender.

 

 

I tend to agree. Motorcycles are not usually used for pursuit.

Maybe not stupid - we don't know what training he had.
For obvious reasons